Research
and Development Strategy
Wherever possible, research and development projects
will be elevated to the highest level providing applicability
to the greatest number of crops and growers. Council
will therefore ensure effective cross fertilisation
and synergy across various crop groups and sector Panels.
Within this overall approach there are a number of
continuing themes which Council is keen to see developed
which are outlined below.
1. Profitability & Competitiveness
• |
The continued development of quality assurance
and accreditation schemes. |
• |
Horizon scanning on the future of the various
components of the horticultural industry. |
• |
Promotion of benchmarking and wide supply
chain issues. |
• |
Effect development and implementation of decision
support models and computing in general. |
2. Pesticides
• |
Maintain an effective pesticide armoury. |
• |
Work to develop pesticide minimisation, acceptable
alternatives and biological controls. |
• |
Cooperate with others overseas to maximise
alternatives and reduce costs. |
3. Labour
• |
Sponsor the Warwick Manufacturing Group to
develop production engineering expertise for
the horticultural industry. |
• |
Continue to work with others on genuine labour
saving opportunities for the industry. |
4. Health & Safety
• |
Develop a programme of technology transfer
for generic health and safety issues using wherever
possible, already published material and established
experts. |
5. Energy
• |
Expand the energy saving sub-strategy of the
Protected Crops Panel into other crop areas and
ensure that take up is maximised. |
6. Water
• |
Develop a cross-sector strategy for research,
development and technology transfer work to assist
the industry cope with new and pending legislation
on water use and waste water issues. |
7. Waste
• |
Work with other levy boards to identify the
main research and technology transfer gaps in
relation to waste minimisation and waste management,
and support appropriate projects to fill such
gaps in horticulture. |
8. Peat & peat alternatives
• |
In association with growers and other stakeholders,
review the use of peat and peat alternatives
in professional horticulture growing media, to
include technical, economic and environmental
impact risk assessments. |
• |
Encourage the individual sector Panels to
support relevant trial work on peat alternatives. |
9. Health benefits of fruit & vegetables
• |
Develop the factual health and nutrition building
blocks on the benefits of fruits and vegetables |
Use these building blocks to develop a promotional
blue print for communications that benefits opinion
formers and the public. |
